Special Department to Supervise Property Census

May 23, 1938

VIENNA (May. 22)

Registration of Jewish property in the Austrian province will be supervised by a special department in the Commerce Ministry instead of by the Provincial Governor, Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, it was jointly decreed by Dr. Inquart and Nazi Commissar Joseph Buerckel.

The special department, which is to put into effect the terms of the recent Goering edict for listing of all property owned by Jews valued over $2,000, will be established within the Commerce Ministry’s commissariat for private economy. An order signed by Buerckel appointed Engineer Walter Raffenberger as head of the department, which will be under direct supervision of the Commissar for Private Economy.

A special council will be attached to the department, comprising representatives of industry, commerce, handicrafts, agriculture, banking, small credit institutions and insurance firms. In the future, all proposals for acquisition of Jewish property must be addressed to this department. Transfers of Jewish property without the department’s approval is declared illegal and subject to punishment. All enterprises already transferred must obtain the department’s approval not later than June 30.